The hydrothermally-active Sinarka volcano (figure 1) is located on the NE end of the dumbbell-shaped island of Shiashkotan, in the Kuril Islands chain, with Kuntomintar in the south (figure 2). Kalacheva et al. (2015) note that the extrusive dome within the central cone exhibits degassing through strong and hot (over 400°C) fumaroles (figure 3). Much of the time the volcano is obscured by clouds from satellite observations, but it is monitored by the Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT).

Figure 3. Photo of the lava dome within the central cone of Sinarka. From Kalacheva et al. (2015); photo by Elena Kalacheva.

The Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT) noted volcanic activity at Sinarka between 11 November 2014 and 21 March 2015 (table 1). The primary observations were of a weak thermal anomaly combined with weak steam-and-gas plumes seen in satellite imagery. Plumes sometimes drifted as far as 40-50 km downwind. The cause of the anomalies is unknown. However, on 3 December 2014 the plume reportedly contained minor ash.

Table 1. Summary of activity observed at Sinarka volcano from November 2014 to June 2016. Courtesy of Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT).

SVERT reported that on 8 December satellite images of Sinarka showed diffuse steam-and-gas emissions. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 9-15 December. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow.

SVERT reported that on 3 December satellite images of Sinarka showed steam-and-gas emissions with small amounts of ash drifting 40 km NE. Diffuse steam-and-gas emissions were observed on 6 December. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 1-8 December. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow.

SVERT reported that on 27 November satellite images of Sinarka showed steam-and-gas emissions drifting 50 km SE. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 24 November-1 December. The Aviation Color Code remained at Yellow.

SVERT reported that satellite images of Sinarka showed steam-and-gas emissions on 19 November. Cloud cover obscured views on the other days during 17-24 November. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow.

SVERT reported that satellite images of Sinarka showed steam-and-gas emissions drifted 40 km E on 11 November. The next day a weak thermal anomaly was detected. Gas-and-steam activity became more robust; emissions drifted NE. A weak thermal anomaly was again detected on 16 November. The Aviation Color Code was raised to Yellow.

Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)

The hydrothermally-active Sinarka volcano (figure 1) is located on the NE end of the dumbbell-shaped island of Shiashkotan, in the Kuril Islands chain, with Kuntomintar in the south (figure 2). Kalacheva et al. (2015) note that the extrusive dome within the central cone exhibits degassing through strong and hot (over 400°C) fumaroles (figure 3). Much of the time the volcano is obscured by clouds from satellite observations, but it is monitored by the Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT).

Figure 3. Photo of the lava dome within the central cone of Sinarka. From Kalacheva et al. (2015); photo by Elena Kalacheva.

The Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT) noted volcanic activity at Sinarka between 11 November 2014 and 21 March 2015 (table 1). The primary observations were of a weak thermal anomaly combined with weak steam-and-gas plumes seen in satellite imagery. Plumes sometimes drifted as far as 40-50 km downwind. The cause of the anomalies is unknown. However, on 3 December 2014 the plume reportedly contained minor ash.

Table 1. Summary of activity observed at Sinarka volcano from November 2014 to June 2016. Courtesy of Sakhalin Volcanic Eruption Response Team (SVERT).

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Kuro-dake | Aka-dake | Sinarko

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

LatitudeLongitude

290290

1878 CE

911 m / 2989 ft

48.873°N
154.182°E

Volcano Types

Stratovolcano Lava dome

Rock Types

MajorAndesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zoneIntermediate crust (15-25 km)

Population

Within 5 kmWithin 10 kmWithin 30 kmWithin 100 km

0
3
3
57

Geological Summary

Sinarka volcano, occupying the northern end of Shiashkotan Island in the central Kuriles, has a complex structure. A small, 2-km-wide depression open to the NW has been largely filled and overtopped by an andesitic postglacial central cone that itself contains a lava dome that forms the high point of the island. Another lava dome, Zheltokamennaya Mountain, lies 1.5 km to the SW along the buried SW rim of the caldera, and a smaller dome lies along the northern caldera rim. Historical eruptions have occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries. The last and largest of these, during 1872-78, was once thought to originate from Kuntomintar volcano at the southern end of the island, but is now attributed to Sinarka (Gorshkov, 1970).

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Sinarka.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Sinarka.

Photo Gallery

Sinarka is the northernmost of two volcanoes forming Shiashkotan Island that are connected by a narrow isthmus about 1 km wide (out of view to the bottom). This Space Shuttle image (with north to the upper left) shows the complex summit region of the volcano. Historical eruptions have occurred at Sinarka during the 17th and 18th centuries. The last and largest of these, during 1872-78, was once thought to originate from Kuntomintar volcano at the southern end of Shiashkotan.

GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

External Sites

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

The Sentinel Hub Playground provides a quick look at any Sentinel-2 image in any combination of the bands and enhanced with image effects; Landsat 8, DEM and MODIS are also available. Sentinel Hub is an engine for processing of petabytes of satellite data. It is opening the doors for machine learning and helping hundreds of application developers worldwide. It makes Sentinel, Landsat, and other Earth observation imagery easily accessible for browsing, visualization and analysis. Sentinel Hub is operated by Sinergise

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Sinarka. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Sinarka. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO2 to the atmosphere, but installing CO2 monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).